North Korea defeated South Korea 3-0 to cap a perfect AFC U17 Women\u2019s Asian Cup Group A campaign last night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Korea will face Thailand in the quarter-finals while South Korea will meet Japan, with both matches to be played on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After an even start to the match, the game burst into life in the 13th minute with South Korean custodian Lee Seung-a having to turn away Ri Ui Gyong\u2019s fierce strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, from the ensuing long throw-in, the Korea Republic defence was beaten as Eh Chong Gum ghosted into the box unmarked to head home the opening goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Korea had a lucky escape six minutes later when goalkeeper Kim Son Gyong\u2019s weak punch saw the ball fall to Lim Ji-hye, who scuffed her shot before Kim Min-seo rocked the crossbar with the follow-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reigning champions had chances to take an even bigger lead into the break but the heroics of Lee in goal twice denied Ui Gyong as South Korea kept themselves in the tie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Searching for the equaliser, Korea Republic appeared for the second half with renewed vigour as they asked more questions of the North Korea defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A surging run from Lim in the 54th minute saw the attacking midfielder almost breaking into the box before being crowded out by three defenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Korea\u2019s resistance, however, was eventually broken in the 77th minute when Kim Won Sim headed home Ri Kyong Im\u2019s perfect corner delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Korea added further gloss to the victory when Won Sim got her second, following up her own initial effort that was blocked by Lee, to slot into an empty goalmouth to seal a perfect group stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stalemate for the Philippines and Chinese Taipei<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Philippines and Chinese Taipei ended their campaigns following a 0-0 stalemate at the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result meant both sides finished with a point each, which meant elimination with DPR Korea topping the group with Korea Republic second. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Both sides went into the tie needing victory to stand a chance of advancing but it was the Philippines who enjoyed a better start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Southeast Asian side applied early pressure through Kaida Mizzo, Ariana Enderes and Ava Garcia but it didn\u2019t take Chinese Taipei long to find their way into the, with Wang Yu-Hsin forcing Philippines goalkeeper Leah Bradley into tipping away her long range effort in the 14th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chinese Taipei went close a minute later with Chen Ying-xuan drilling a powerful drive just off the right post and Yang Yi-Ai trying from distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Philippines regained control towards the end of the half, with Enderes remaining their biggest threat. The forward saw another attempt blocked in the 27th minute before firing narrowly wide from outside the area 10 minutes later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Philippines emerged with greater attacking intent after the restart and almost found the breakthrough in the 49th minute with Savannah Chheng firing narrowly wide, while Aiselyn Sia sent a glancing header just wide five minutes later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Goalkeeper Lin Pin-Yu was then called into action in the 65th minute, producing an excellent save to tip Luna Rivera\u2019s long-range effort before Chiara Mizzo and Enderes both saw their efforts foiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With neither side being able to find a way through, they had to settle for a share of the points and an early end to their campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Japan hammer the Aussies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Japan concluded their Group B campaign in style, defeating Australia 5-0 at the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having topped the group with a perfect three wins, Japan will face the Group C runners-up in the quarter-finals on Monday. Australia, who also advanced after finishing second, will play Group A runners-up Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite having already confirmed their last eight spot, Japan went on the offensive from the start with Harura Matsushita’s third minute effort from outside the box forcing a save from Australia custodian Annabelle Croll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia, who were held 1-1 by Lebanon on Matchday Two, were struggling to contain Japan and conceded the opener in the 16th minute to a Mei Hanashiro header.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The setback sparked Australia into immediate action with Maeve Nicholas’s left footed shot requiring a save from Japan goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That, however, proved to be the only shot on target for the Australians in the first half as Japan widened their lead in the 22nd minute after Arisu Ota dispossessed Charlotte Bradshaw and relayed the ball to Mino Tamamura who, in turn, released Hanashiro to slot home into the bottom right corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The third Japanese goal came in the 35th minute, with Tamamura getting her name on the scoresheet with a well-placed finish from the centre of the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Croll denied Rei Kitamura and Mino Tamamura in the opening minutes of the second half but failed to cleanly save the latter’s shot from distance in the 52nd minute, with Nanami Kurita slotting the spilled ball home from close range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Japan dictating play, Australia were forced to defend deep but despite their best efforts, conceded again in the 73rd minute to substitute Rara Higuchi’s long range from the left following a corner as Japan reinforced their title credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India keeps hopes alive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n India kept their quarter-final hopes alive with a 4-0 win against Lebanon in Group B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The win meant a third-placed finish for India behind Japan and Australia but the South Asian side will have to wait for the Group C outcome to learn their fate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With both sides needing victory to keep their hopes alive, it was Lebanon who almost found a way through in the fifth minute with captain Gia Frangieh sending a neat lob into the box for Yara Geitani but India goalkeeper Munni Bhambhu was quickly off her line to swoop the ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India responded by taking the lead two minutes later, with Pritika Barman surging past Joya Bou Assaf before sidestepping Yasmina Nassar inside the box and lifting the ball over Lebanon goalkeeper Marie Joe Chebly into the top left corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The South Asian side came close to doubling their lead in the ninth minute after Anushka Kumari saw her grounded effort blocked by Nassar, with Julan Nongmaithem skying the rebound over the bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Geitani had a chance to level the score in the 14th minute but saw her curling effort deflected to safety by India captain Elizabed Lakra while at the other end, Chebly denied Pritika twice from close range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n India, however, were dominating possession and got their second in the 36th minute with Alva Senjam\u2019s pace taking her past Frangieh, with the Thambalkhong YWC Manipur player then calmly slotting past Chebly to give India a comfortable cushion going into the break. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lebanon upped their tempo after the break and went close to reducing the deficit in the 57th minute when Yasmin El Habbal shook off her marker, only to see Munni close in with a challenge before \u200b\u200bSara Issa\u2019s follow up was cleared off the line by Divyani Linda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any hope of a fightback was ended after Joya Joya furthered India\u2019s tally in the 72nd minute when she beat two markers before shooting past Chebly with Pritika doubling her personal tally in the 85th with a solo effort from inside the box to seal the victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" North Korea defeated South Korea 3-0 to cap a perfect AFC U17 Women\u2019s Asian Cup Group A 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